Love is caring and being aware of needs. Love of self sheds light on our own needs; love of others sheds light on others needs. One of our greatest needs as humans is to care for another. That's why solitary people are encouraged to have a pet.
For those of us who have children, or are relatives or neighbors of children, we can love them enough to look at their needs. Service is love in action. Many of us relate to being of service, such as Rotary Clubs, Woman's Clubs, and the best intentions of Chambers of Commerce. More groups and individuals are becoming aware of the unmet needs of a very high percentage of at-risk children.
The first time these children tend to show up in statistics is kindergarten assessments. State of Minnesota Department of Education runs an annual survey of kindergartners who are at-risk to fail, not at age proficiency in literacy developmental skills. In 2007 it was 53%; in 2008 it was 56% of kindergartners at-risk to fail.
Southern Early Childhood Association estimates 3 million children in 14 SE states are in this at-risk to fail demographic. It works out to 12 million nationally.For the state of Virginia the estimate is 250,000 kindergartners are at-risk to fail in the area of literacy development.
There is one factor that these children have in common. No books in their homes suitable for children. Also studies have shown their parents don't read to them. What if I told you there is an action plan with books and materials identified that can equip and encourage these parents interest in reading to their toddlers to 4 year olds?
Often these parents were not read to themselves, when they were young children. They probably had some difficulties in school because of that and the whole subject of literacy is not their favorite. Many of them lack confidence that they can be their child's first teacher. Many don't think they know how to start their child off with an understanding of books. Many are of poverty level or low income level with paying the rent and getting food for their family leaving them tired , stressed and overwhelmed.
Literacy for Tykes a solution based non profit organization equips, encourages and empowers parents to bring literacy to their early children's development.
With loving awareness of parents caught between lack of early literacy experiences themselves and high stress of hard economic times, LFT makes available an engaging picture book Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures, with step-by-step parent guidelines to share learning points of pictures with their early child.
"Enjoy Books With Children" is also a parent tip sheet that we supply to our many educational and human service partners to encourage the parents they serve. Practical insights help parents understand how little time and effort it takes to meet the visual literacy first-step needs of their little ones. How to enjoy picture book reading for increasing minutes a day is mapped out. The step of eliminating distractions in the room such as TV, music, computers, cell phones and other activities is explained. Simple techniques of meeting their child at their interest and attention level are given.
Our results reports for parents using Literacy for Tykes books and materials are very encouraging, that our loving concern for parents is helping them gain confidence and interest that they can read to their child of ages 1-5years. These parents report that their children are showing interest in reading these picture books. Minutes spent reading together is increasing even beyond our success metrics for this stage of the home-reading program.
Literacy for Tykes is also gratified that local community groups are showing concerned interest as they hear our presentations and become aware of the early child literacy need in their communities. Several such service groups are carefully looking at how they can support this outreach of love for our little ones and their parents.
Out of love and concern, Literacy for Tykes' president Nancy Cloyd is asking friends to rally together and give donations at www.LiteracyForTykes.com in honor of her upcoming April 64th birthday. Please be part of this birthday wish for love to manifest as support, to equip and encourage learning and reading for the most needy.
These birthday candles could brighten the future of many at-risk children, for many years to come. Give support and light another candle of Love.
See link on right side of this page: Literacy for Tykes Main Website
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Special Needs Toddlers Results Report
Literacy for Tykes is delighted to receive Partner Results Reports from Infant and Toddler Connections with whom we partner on our Early Child Literacy Program. This partner is dedicated to serving children with special needs from birth through age 3 years. The specific special needs are related to developmental delays, autism, hearing loss, speech delays, and Down Syndrome.
The assistant director said,"Parents appear to be spending more time reading with their children. They are using the 'Parent Points' (from Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures and Enjoy Books with Children) even when reading other books, making reading time more involved and having positive interaction."
Four months into our Early Child Literacy Program parents are reading more frequently and for longer time periods with their children with special needs. 80% state they appreciate Literacy for Tykes book and materials. and have expressed how helpful the "Parent Points" have been in making reading time more interactive. These step-by-step parent guidelines are offered throughout Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures giving specific applications of 'Enjoy Books with Children" concepts, reaching the children through sight, sound, touch and action.
Parents gained confidence that they could read more successfully to their children with special needs. These parents have gained more interest in reading with their children and stated, "It was helpful to use the 'Parent Points' while reading with their child. Also 75% of parents came to understand and comply with making the reading area quiet, with minimum distractions, as suggested in "Enjoy Books with Children", our parent tip sheet.
Infant & Toddler Connection reported the children all increased in ability to relate to a book, appropriate to their age and developmental positioning. We are very gratified to receive this report with such positive results of equipping and encouraging parents for their more successful and more enjoyable interaction with their precious babies and toddlers.
We salute the dedication of the staff of Infant & Toddler Connection associated with Longwood (University) Center for Language, Literacy and Communication (LCLLC), and are proud to join them in their efforts to encourage parents and strengthen family ties to brighten their children's early years and future potential.
To support this and other Literacy for Tykes programs and make a difference in empowering parents to bring positive literacy progress to meet the needs of the early children,
see Literacy for Tykes Main Website Link on the right side of this page or go to www.LiteracyForTykes.com
The assistant director said,"Parents appear to be spending more time reading with their children. They are using the 'Parent Points' (from Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures and Enjoy Books with Children) even when reading other books, making reading time more involved and having positive interaction."
Four months into our Early Child Literacy Program parents are reading more frequently and for longer time periods with their children with special needs. 80% state they appreciate Literacy for Tykes book and materials. and have expressed how helpful the "Parent Points" have been in making reading time more interactive. These step-by-step parent guidelines are offered throughout Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures giving specific applications of 'Enjoy Books with Children" concepts, reaching the children through sight, sound, touch and action.
Parents gained confidence that they could read more successfully to their children with special needs. These parents have gained more interest in reading with their children and stated, "It was helpful to use the 'Parent Points' while reading with their child. Also 75% of parents came to understand and comply with making the reading area quiet, with minimum distractions, as suggested in "Enjoy Books with Children", our parent tip sheet.
Infant & Toddler Connection reported the children all increased in ability to relate to a book, appropriate to their age and developmental positioning. We are very gratified to receive this report with such positive results of equipping and encouraging parents for their more successful and more enjoyable interaction with their precious babies and toddlers.
We salute the dedication of the staff of Infant & Toddler Connection associated with Longwood (University) Center for Language, Literacy and Communication (LCLLC), and are proud to join them in their efforts to encourage parents and strengthen family ties to brighten their children's early years and future potential.
To support this and other Literacy for Tykes programs and make a difference in empowering parents to bring positive literacy progress to meet the needs of the early children,
see Literacy for Tykes Main Website Link on the right side of this page or go to www.LiteracyForTykes.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
4 Keys to Prep Your Toddler for K & Life Success
How can you most effectively reach your toddler-to-four-year-old to prepare for Kindergarten and life success? Be aware of how a young child learns everything about life. The senses are the keys to unlock your ability to reach your child's developing mind.
The most basic senses of taste, sucking, feeding and getting his physical comfort met are always present and need to be satisfied first. Then we need to focus on the 4 sense keys of Sight, Sound, Touch, Doing.
Before inviting your child into a desirable learning activity, see that all distractions are eliminated or minimized in the area of sight, sound, touch and doing (or activity). Turn off the TV, Radio, Music, Computer. Find a place with enough light but not too much, enough heat but not too much, and without other activities.
Sharing a picture book is a fun and very important activity for preparing your child for Kindergarten. Choose a book that has clear and engaging images without distracting backgrounds, so that you and your child may focus easily on one image per page. See Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures sample pages on amazon.com. Also, you could cut images out of a magazine and paste them on a blank piece of paper, one image per page, to create such an image without distracting background.
When you invite your child to participate in an activity with you, like reading a picture book together, focus on the 4 key areas again:
Sight= Your Facial Expression. Children watch your facial expression to know your attitude toward them and toward what you are doing. Be positive. Smile.
Sound=Your Tone of Voice. Children hear your tone of voice to know how you feel about them and what you are doing. Be enthusiastic. Have fun. " Let's read this book together.
Touch=Your Touch. Children are comforted calmed and brought to full receptivity by your cuddly loving touch. Learning neural pathways are opened to receive who you are, what you have to say, and what you show them, especially if you are their mom or a consistent care provider. You've established a trusted place in their awareness. Be loving. This is your together moment.
Doing=Your Actions Bring your child to your lap. You have their attention. Your child wants to learn everything you do. Show the book cover and read the title to them.
In the reading process, again use the 4 key areas to reach your child:
Sight=What You Are Showing Your Child Your child may think you are "reading the pictures". That's ok. They are actively trying to make sense out of what you are showing them on this flat page.
Sound=Speak Clearly With a Smile in Your Voice. Use simple words to name the object on the page. Make the sound associated with it (if any). Your child is correlating the sound you make consistently with the image you show them. If you repeat this sound /picture experience 20 days they will learn to say the sound with the picture, as is appropriate to there age and stage of development. If the picture is of a cat, say"cat", and say"meow".
Touch=Hold Your Child on Your Lap. Your child is most comfortable and aware of what you are showing him or her when touching your body. Have him cuddle next to you if not in your lap.
Doing=Help Your Child Point at the Parts You are Describing. If the picture is of a cat, say "ear" and help your child point to the cat's ear in the picture. Bring the action back to your child's natural sense realm and point to child's ear and say "ear". I also like to have a reward at the end of shared book time together. The last picture to be shared in my book Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures is of a cup, and I suggest to have a cup of something your child likes ready to give at the end , as you say,"You've done such a good job reading.Would you like your cup?" The reward also ties the pictured cup back into the child's sense realm of their own cup.
By using these 4 keys you can have an enjoyable time with your child and bring the world of books to life for them. By doing this fun activity, as close to daily as possible, you are getting your child off to a great start toward Kindergarten readiness, with more confidence and learning skills that will benefit them for lifelong success.
(Note: if your child does not relate to 4 keys interaction by age 3 years seek advise of your pediatrician. Also, see www.firstsigns.org )
These are part of the reading techniques we use successfully with our home-reading program.
see "Literacy For Tykes Main Website" link on the right of this page to see more about our work.
The most basic senses of taste, sucking, feeding and getting his physical comfort met are always present and need to be satisfied first. Then we need to focus on the 4 sense keys of Sight, Sound, Touch, Doing.
Before inviting your child into a desirable learning activity, see that all distractions are eliminated or minimized in the area of sight, sound, touch and doing (or activity). Turn off the TV, Radio, Music, Computer. Find a place with enough light but not too much, enough heat but not too much, and without other activities.
Sharing a picture book is a fun and very important activity for preparing your child for Kindergarten. Choose a book that has clear and engaging images without distracting backgrounds, so that you and your child may focus easily on one image per page. See Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures sample pages on amazon.com. Also, you could cut images out of a magazine and paste them on a blank piece of paper, one image per page, to create such an image without distracting background.
When you invite your child to participate in an activity with you, like reading a picture book together, focus on the 4 key areas again:
Sight= Your Facial Expression. Children watch your facial expression to know your attitude toward them and toward what you are doing. Be positive. Smile.
Sound=Your Tone of Voice. Children hear your tone of voice to know how you feel about them and what you are doing. Be enthusiastic. Have fun. " Let's read this book together.
Touch=Your Touch. Children are comforted calmed and brought to full receptivity by your cuddly loving touch. Learning neural pathways are opened to receive who you are, what you have to say, and what you show them, especially if you are their mom or a consistent care provider. You've established a trusted place in their awareness. Be loving. This is your together moment.
Doing=Your Actions Bring your child to your lap. You have their attention. Your child wants to learn everything you do. Show the book cover and read the title to them.
In the reading process, again use the 4 key areas to reach your child:
Sight=What You Are Showing Your Child Your child may think you are "reading the pictures". That's ok. They are actively trying to make sense out of what you are showing them on this flat page.
Sound=Speak Clearly With a Smile in Your Voice. Use simple words to name the object on the page. Make the sound associated with it (if any). Your child is correlating the sound you make consistently with the image you show them. If you repeat this sound /picture experience 20 days they will learn to say the sound with the picture, as is appropriate to there age and stage of development. If the picture is of a cat, say"cat", and say"meow".
Touch=Hold Your Child on Your Lap. Your child is most comfortable and aware of what you are showing him or her when touching your body. Have him cuddle next to you if not in your lap.
Doing=Help Your Child Point at the Parts You are Describing. If the picture is of a cat, say "ear" and help your child point to the cat's ear in the picture. Bring the action back to your child's natural sense realm and point to child's ear and say "ear". I also like to have a reward at the end of shared book time together. The last picture to be shared in my book Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures is of a cup, and I suggest to have a cup of something your child likes ready to give at the end , as you say,"You've done such a good job reading.Would you like your cup?" The reward also ties the pictured cup back into the child's sense realm of their own cup.
By using these 4 keys you can have an enjoyable time with your child and bring the world of books to life for them. By doing this fun activity, as close to daily as possible, you are getting your child off to a great start toward Kindergarten readiness, with more confidence and learning skills that will benefit them for lifelong success.
(Note: if your child does not relate to 4 keys interaction by age 3 years seek advise of your pediatrician. Also, see www.firstsigns.org )
These are part of the reading techniques we use successfully with our home-reading program.
see "Literacy For Tykes Main Website" link on the right of this page to see more about our work.
Literacy for Tykes is a 501(c)(3)
Nonprofit Public Charity.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Nonprofit Public Charity.
All donations are tax-deductible.
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